Searcy County, Arkansas
Genealogy, Facts and Records Resources
Searcy County was created on 13 December 1838 and was formed from Marion County. It was named after Richard Searcy, the first clerk and a judge in Lawrence County. The first seat of government was at Lebanon on the Buffalo River before moving to Marshall in 1856, where it has remained since. Marshall was originally named Burrowville, after N.B. Burrow, and changed to Marshall in 1884.
Searcy County is bordered by Marion County (north), Baxter County (northeast), Stone County (east), Van Buren County (south), Pope County (southwest), Newton County (west), Boone County (northwest). Cities, Towns & Communities include Gilbert, Leslie, Marshall, Pindall, St. Joe
Note: Marion county was originally named Searcy 1835-1836.
Parts of Searcy County was used to form the following counties: Baxter 1873, Stone 1873, Van Buren 1833. Other county boundry changes occured when Line with Van Buren defined 2 October 1853, lines with Van Buren and Marion defined 20 October 1855.
The Official County Government Website is located at ? . It was reported destruction of the records in Jan. 1864, partial destruction in March 1877, and destruction again in Aug. 1885. "All records prior to 1881 are missing except deed record A, one chancery court record, one probate court record, one circuit court record."
County Court, Probate and Tax Records
It was reported destruction of the records in Jan. 1864, partial destruction in March 1877, and destruction again in Aug. 1885. "All records prior to 1881 are missing except deed record A, one chancery court record, one probate court record, one circuit court record."
Searcy County Clerk of Circuit Court has Court Records from 1867 and Land Records from 1848 and is located at Courthouse Square, Marshall, 72650; (870) 448-3807 .
The circuit clerk is the clerk of the circuit, chancery court, and juvenile court and usually acts as the ex-officio recorder of the county. The administrative duties of the clerk are to maintain a record of all proceedings of the circuit, chancery and juvenile courts and to prepare the dockets for these courts. They are also the ex-officio county recorder; and is responsible for recording deeds, mortgages, liens, and surety bonds, and many other orders and instruments which involve property within the county
Searcy County Clerk has Marriage Records from 1880 and Probate Records from 1859 and is located at Courthouse Square, Marshall, 72650; (870) 448-3807
The circuit clerk is the clerk of the circuit, as clerk to the probate court, the clerk files all instruments making them a matter of record in descendent estate cases, and swears in all witnesses in contested estates. The clerk, also in this capacity, maintains all records relative to adoptions and guardianship cases within the county.
Although probate court is a court of equity and is presided over by the chancery judge, prior to 1937 it was a function of the county court, and under the amended procedure, the county clerk still operates ad the clerk of the probate court
Tax records are located in the county courthouse and the Arkansas History Commission.
Below is a list of online resources for Searcy County Court Records. Email us with websites containing Searcy County Court Records by clicking the link below:
County Birth, Marriage, Divorce and Death Records
Birth, marriage, and death records are connected with central life events. They are prime sources for genealogical information.
Arkansas Vital Records, 4815 West Markham St Little Rock, AR 72205, Please allow up to approximately 4-6 weeks for processing of all type of certificates when ordered through the mail. They have the following records:
- Birth Certificates: Birth records maintained by Arkansas Vital Records start with February 1, 1914 through the present. Vital Records does have a limited number of birth records prior to 1914. The birth records dated prior to 1914 were filed with Arkansas Vital Records after 1914. They have original copies of Little Rock and Fort Smith births dating from 1881.
- Cost: The cost of a birth record is $12.00 for the first copy and $10.00 for each additional copy ordered of the same record at the same time. If no record is found or no copy is made, state law requires that we keep $12.00 for a searching fee. The customer may request a refund of any amount paid over the required $12.00 search fee. Please do not send cash in the mail.
- Death Certificates: Death records maintained by Arkansas Vital Records start with February 1, 1914 through the present. Arkansas Vital Records does have a limited number of deaths occurring prior to 1914 for Little Rock and Fort Smith dating from 1881. The Arkansas History Commission has a death index of deaths occurring in Arkansas from 1914 through 1949. This is only an alphabetical listing of deaths occurring in Arkansas. The History Commission does not have copies of the death records.
- Cost: The cost of a certified death certificate is $10.00 for the first copy and $8.00 for each additional copy issued at the same time for the same certificate. If no record is found or no copy is made, state law requires that we keep $10.00 for a searching fee. The customer may request a refund of any amount paid over the required $10.00 search fee. Please do not send cash in the mail.
- Marriage & Divorce Certificates: Marriage records maintained in Arkansas Vital Records begin with January 1917. Arkansas Vital Records does not have any marriage records prior to 1917.
Divorce records maintained in Arkansas Vital Records begin with January 1923. Arkansas Vital Records does not have any divorce records prior to 1923. Records of marriage & divorce proceedings are available from the Searcy County clerk of Probate Court that granted the decree.You can download an application online for Marriage Certificates or Divorce Certificates .
- Cost: Arkansas Vital Records maintains a file of marriage and divorce coupons. These coupons are acceptable with organizations that require a certified record. The cost of a marriage or divorce coupon is $10.00 for each copy. If no record is found or no copy is made, state law requires that we keep $10.00 for a searching fee. The customer may request a refund of any amount paid over the required $10.00 search fee.
- Order In Person: The certificates may be ordered by coming into this office. If you want the copy the same day, our hours for same day service are 8:00 A.M. until 3:00 P.M. Monday – Friday. The office is located at 4815 West Markham St Little Rock, AR 72205.
- Order By Mail: Mail a check or money order (no cash) payable to the "Vital Records " along with the necessary information to the following address: Vital Records, PO Box 8184, Little Rock AR 72203-8184. Please include return address on envelope and application form. Processing Time takes 4-6 weeks when ordered by MAIL or 2-5 Days when you Order Online.
- Ordering Vital Records - You can also order Order Electronically Online or You can download an application for Birth, Marriage, Divorce or Death Certificates to mail.
Below is a list of online resources for Searcy County Vital Records. Email us with websites containing Searcy County Vital Records by clicking the link below:
- Submit a website for Searcy Co. Vital Records
- Vital Records from Archives.com: Order Birth, Marriage, Divorce or Death Records Online!

- Click Here to Search the Social Security Death Index - Search over 82 million death records and get genealogical information crucial to your family research.
- Research Death records In The World's Largest Newspaper Archive at NewpaperArchive.com!
- Find thousands of historical Arkansas newspaper articles about deaths. Search for local articles about an old family friend that died many years ago or a celebrity that committed suicide. Historical newspapers contain a wealth of information about the deceased.
- Arkansas Death Index, 1914-1950 - index to approximately 594,000 deaths that occurred in Arkansas between 1914 and 1950.
- Arkansas Divorce Index, 1923-1939 - index to divorces that were filed in Arkansas from 1923-27 and 1934-39. Information can include plaintiff's name, defendant's name, date of divorce, county of divorce, volume number, docket number, and certificate number.
- Arkansas Marriage Index, 1933-1939 - index to individuals who were married in Arkansas from 1933-1939. Information that may be found in this database can include groom's name, bride's name, marriage date, license date, county of marriage, marriage certificate and volume number.
- Arkansas Marriages to 1850 - contains Arkansas marriages to 1850 and contains over 18,000 names.
- Arkansas Marriages, 1779-1992 - contains marriage information from selected areas of Arkansas for over 300,000 individuals from 1779-1992.
- Arkansas Marriages, 1820-1949 - contains marriage information from selected areas of Arkansas from 1820-1949.
- Arkansas Marriages, 1851-1900 - database of Arkansas marriage records between 1851 and 1900 includes records from Ashley, Baxter, Benton, Carroll, Clark, Clay, Cleveland, Conway, Craighead, Crawford, Cross, Dallas, Fulton, Garland, Grant, Hempstead, Hot Spring, Howard, Independence, Johnson, Lafayette, Lawrence, Logan, Lonoke, Marion, Montgomery, Nevada, Phillips, Pike, Polk, Prairie, Randolph, St. Francis, Scott, Sebastian, Sharp, Stone Yell, Union, Washington, and White Counties
- Searcy County, Arkansas Birth, Marriage & Death Books at Amazon.com
County Census Records
Few, if any, records reveal as many details about individuals and families as do government census records. Substitute records can be used when the official census is unavailable
Countywide Records: Federal Population Schedules that exist for Searcy County, Arkansas are 1840, 1850, 1860, 1870, 1880, 1890 (fragment, see below), 1900, 1910, 1920 and 1930. Other Federal Schedules to look at when researching your family tree in Searcy County, Arkansas are Industry and Agriculture Schedules 1850, 1860, 1870 and 1880. Slave Schedules exist for 1850 & 1860. The Mortality Schedules for the years 1850, 1860, 1870 and 1880.There are free downloadable and printable Census forms to help with your research. These include U.S. Census Extraction Forms and U.K. Census Extraction Forms
Below is a list of online resources for Searcy County Census Records. Email us with websites containing Searcy County Census Records by clicking the link below:
County Maps & Atlases
Below is a list of online resources for Searcy County Maps. Email us with websites containing Searcy County Maps by clicking the link below:
County Military Records
Below is a list of online resources for Searcy County Military Records. Email us with websites containing Searcy County Military Records by clicking the link below:
- Submit a website for Searcy Co. Military Records
- Southern Claims - Barred and Disallowed from the State of Arkansas (The National Archives): View, Print Copy & Save Original Documents In the 1870s, southerners claimed compensation from the U.S. government for items used by the Union Army, ranging from corn and horses, to trees and church buildings.
- Organization Index to Pension Files of Veterans Who Served Between 1861 and 1900 from the State of Arkansas (The National Archives): View, Print Copy & Save Original Pension applications for service in the U.S. Army between 1861 and 1917, grouped according to the units in which the veterans served.
- Compiled Service Records of Confederate Soldiers Who Served in Organizations from the State of Arkansas
(The National Archives): View, Print Copy & Save Compiled service records of Confederate soldiers from southern units, labeled with each soldier's name, rank, and unit, with links to revealing documents about each soldier.
- Case Files of Applications from Former Confederates for Presidential Pardons ("Amnesty Papers"), 1865-67 from the State of Arkansas (The National Archives): NARA M1003. View, Print Copy & Save Original Applications for pardon submitted to President Andrew Johnson, 1865-67, by former Confederates excluded from earlier amnesty proclamations.
- Arkansas Society of Daughters of the American Revolution
- National Society of Daughters of the American Revolution,
- Arkansas Society of Sons of the American Revolution,
- National Society of Sons of the American Revolution, 1000 South Fourth Street, Louisville, Kentucky 40203; (502) 589-1776
- Searcy County, Arkansas Military Books at Amazon.com
County Genealogical Addresses
Below is a list of online resources for Searcy County Genealogical Addresses. Email us with websites containing Searcy County Genealogical Addresses by clicking the link below:
- Submit a website for Searcy Co. Genealogical Addresses
- Searcy County Historical Society,
Highway 27 S,
Marshall 72650
- Arkansas History Commission, One Capitol Mall, Little Rock, AR 72201; 501.682.6900
- Arkansas Genealogical Society, 1411 Shady Grove Road, P.O. Box 908, Hot Springs, AR 71902-0908; Phone: 501-262-4513
- Arkansas Historical Society, 422 South Sixth Street, Van Buren, AR 72201
- Arkansas Family History Association, 609 Colynwood, Sherwood, Arkansas 72120; 501-835-7502
- Arkansas Historical Association, 416 Old Main, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR 72701; 479-575-5884, 479-575-2775 FAX
- Newspapers & Periodicals - The Newspapers & Periodicals Collection lets you discover a wealth of information about your ancestors from many historical newspapers, magazines, and other periodicals. These types of sources can often supplement public records and provide information that is not recorded anywhere else. Here, you can learn more about your ancestor's possible daily activities by placing them in the context of their time.
- Arkansas Genealogical Society Books at Amazon.com
County Church & Cemeteries
Obituaries can vary in the amount of information they contain, but many of them are genealogical goldmines, including information such as names, dates, places of birth and death, marriage information, and family relationships.
There are many churches and cemeteries in Searcy County. Some transcriptions are online. A great site is the Searcy County Tombstone Transcription Project.
Below is a list of online resources for Searcy County Cemetery & Church Records. Email us with websites containing Searcy County Cemetery & Church Records by clicking the link below:
- Submit a website for Searcy Co. Cemetery & Church Records
- Cemetery Records at Archives.com
- Find Obituaries in The World's Largest Newspaper Archive at NewpaperArchive.com! - Find thousands of Arkansas obituaries to help you research your family history. Search for a Arkansas newspaper obituary about your ancestor or a celebrity. Begin your search today and find death notices and funeral announcements printed in newspapers from Arkansas .
- Obituary Records at Archives.com
- America's Obituaries (1977 to current) at Genealogybank.com
- Obituaries contain helpful information such as names, dates, places of birth, death, marriage and family information. Over 28 million obituaries make this the most complete collection from the 20th and 21st centuries - includes over 1,100 U.S. newspapers. New content added daily!
- Searcy County, Arkansas Cemeteries by ARFamilies
- Searcy County, Arkansas Cemetery Books at Amazon.com

- Gravestone, Tombstone, and Memorial Photo Collection from findagrave.com

- Searcy County, Arkansas Church Books at Amazon.com
County Church & Bible Records
Family Trees & Genealogy Tidbits
The use of published genealogies, electronic files containing genealogical lineage, and other compiled sources can be of tremendous value to a researcher.
When view family trees online or not, be sure to only take the info at face value and always follow up with your own sources or verify the ones they provide. Below is a list of online resources for Searcy County Family Trees, web forums and other family type information . Email us with websites containing Searcy County Family Trees, web forums and other family type information by clicking the link below:
- Submit a website for Searcy Co. Family Records
- Sites on USGenweb: [ Searcy County ] [ Arkansas ] [ Main Page ]
- [GenForum Message Boards] [Rootsweb Message Boards
]
- Nichols and Related Families of Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Florida, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and Virgina.
- The Arkansas Family Group Sheet Project
- Searcy County, Arkansas Family Books at Amazon.com